Multiple Myeloma Research Group
Head of laboratory:
This groups has a significant commitment to ongoing clinical research trials to investigate and develop improved therapy programs and new therapeutic drugs. Major areas of trial activity include multiple myeloma, acute leukaemia, lymphoma and stem cell transplantation. In conjunction with the Australian Myeloma Forum, this group has set up the first trial of thalidomide use as induction therapy in myeloma. Furthermore, this is the only group in Australia taking part in a US-National Cancer Institute pharmoacodynamic trial of a proteosome inhibitor in myeloma. As part of the National Myeloma Study this group is continuing to look at the role of T-cells and molecular changes in myeloma, after being the first group to document that the presence of clonal proliferations of T cells are associated with a favouable prognosis. This is the first group to document the T cell stimulatory effects of thalidomide on T cells in the maintenance phase of the disease. In addition this group has a new research program looking at immune therapy in myeloma, the myeloma stem cell and cell-line therapy in myeloma.
The main focus of our Leukaemia Research Group is the clinical and molecular genetic aspects of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML). As part of the National APML study, conducted by the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Group (ALLG) this group is looking at molecular remissions in APML and seeing if complex molecular testing can be used to determine whether a tumour has been eradicated.
Our transplant program is still expanding and has been boosted by the opening of six beds in special hepar-filtered rooms for bone marrow transplant patients in a new inpatient ward. A first class aphaeresis unit provides specialised support to the transplant program.
